First order for new Voith propellers

Voith has developed a new marine propulsion system for installation into a special vessel used for constructing offshore wind parks.

From idea to contract signing in 18 months, the marine business of Voith Turbo has developed the Voith Radial Propellers (VRP) rated at 5.5 MW. With this propulsor, Voith enters new territory and ventures into the market for moving and positioning oil platforms as well as drillships and special vessels.

The contract covers the delivery of five propellers for a special vessel that will consequently be capable of transporting concrete foundations weighing over 7,000 tonnes and positioning them with a high degree of precision. The concrete platforms will be lowered onto the bottom of the sea by a special crane and the advantage of these heavyweight foundations is that they don’t require anchoring.

Weighing over 80 tonnes and measuring approximately 8 m in height, the azimuthing VRPs will ensure that the special vessel, which resembles a drilling platform, is capable sailing at a speed of approximately 10 knots at full load. They also allow highly accurate positioning, even in bad weather and when conditions at sea are rough.

The construction group STRABAG has ordered five such VRPs from Voith for the construction of this special vessel. Four propellers will be installed in the vessel and the fifth will be kept as replacement unit. The newbuilding is scheduled for delivery in late 2011.